Heel-seat fitting machine



4 Sheets-She et 2 J. W. PRATT Filed June 21, 1958 Jan. 2, 1940.

HEEL-SEAT FITTING MACHINE Jan. 2, 1940. J. w. PRATT 2,185,420

HEEL-SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 2% Fig. 4.

Jan. 2, 1940. J. w. PRATT HEEL-SEAT FITTING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 2, i94o UNITED STATES FATENT. OFFHCE HEEL-SEAT FITTING MACHINE New Jersey Application June 21, 1938, [Serial No. 214,917

in Great Britain June 30, 1937 16 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for use in the manufacture of shoes and is illustrated as embodied in a machine for reducing the heelseat portions of soles for the reception of heels.

It is an object of the present invention to improve machines of the general type disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,980,369, granted November 13, 1934, on an application filed in the name of Frank Barton to adapt them for forming upon unattached soles of shoes heelseat tabs which substantially iill the cupped attaching faces of heels of shoes to which the soles are attached.

The various features of the invention will be understood and appreciated from the following detailed description read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a front View, partly broken away, of the illustrated machine;

Fig. 2 is a side view, partly broken away, of the forward portion of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the front portion of the machine on line III-III of Fig. i;

Fig. 4 is a view, partly broken away, of the forward portion of the machine on line IVI-V of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail View showing in perspective mechanism for bending and clamping the heelseat portion of the sole preparatory to reducing the same in the manner illustrated in Fig.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View, partly in section on line VI-VI of Fig. 3, showing the heel-seat portion of the sole being reduced by the machine;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional View on line VII-VII of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an exploded View of parts constituting a bulger unit used when it is desired to reduce the sole in the manner illustrated in Fig. 10;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing mechanism for bending and clamping the heel-seat portion of the sole preparatory to reducing the same in the mannerillustrated in Fig. 11;

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of the heel-seat portion of a sole after it has been reduced by the machine illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive;

Fig. 11 is a perspective View showing the heel seat portion of a sole after it has been operated upon by the machine equipped with the solebending and clamping mechanism illustrated in Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a modified bulger which may be substituted for the bulger shown in Fig. 8; and

Fig. 13 shows a modified presser roll which is used inconjunction with the bulger of Fig. 12.

The illustrated machine comprises a matrix plate til having a U-shaped opening 22 (Figs. i and 5) through which the central part of the heel-seat portion 24 (Figs. 6 and 7) of a sole lit 1 is forced by a bulger 28 of a bulger unit 363 (Fig. 8) after the side margins of the heel-seat portion of the sole have been forced by clamps against a beveled face 3 3 of the ma- 10 trix plate it. After the heel-seat portion of the sole has been bent and clamped as above described it is reduced upon forward movement of a knife (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6), which has a straight cutting edge 33 (Fig. 6) in contact with 15 the fiat upper face it) of the matrix plate 20, to form a heel-seat tab it (Fig. 10). It will be noted that a U-shaped piece it of surplus material trimmed from. the heel-seat portion 24 (Figs. 6' and 7) of the sole 26 is left secured to the To sole until after the sole has been attached to the shoe, in accordance with the practice disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,708,962, granted April 16, 1929, on an application filed in the name of Barclay et al. 33

At each side of the main frame at of the machine are ledges 43 (Figs. 1 and 3) upon which the matrix plate 20 is supported, upwardly extending walls to (Fig. 1) serving to prevent lateral movement of the matrix plate. The rear portion of the matrix plate 26 is provided with laterally extending shoulders provided with recessed portions 52 (Fig. l) which engage vertical bolts E l (Figs. 2 and 4) fitting in bores in the main frame to limit rearward movement of the matrix plate is along the ledges 48. Each bolt Ed has a head 58 which engages a counterbored portion of the matrix plate, the arrange ment being such that the upper surface of the head it? is at all times below the upper face 4 of the matrix plate 20.

Extending inward from the opposite sides of the matrix plate it near its forward end are slots 5533 (Figs. 1 and 4). Bolts til are arranged to enter the respective slots 58, and heads of thebolts are clamped, through mechanism which will appear later, against the upper face ll] of the plate to force the matrix plate it against the ledges it (Figs. 1 and 3). Each bolt 66 extends downward through a slot 62 (Figs. 1 and 4) in the main frame it, the slots 62 being large enough to insure that the bolts (ill may be moved out of the slots 53 of the matrix plate 20 in order to enable the operator to move the matrix plate forward out of the machine preparatory to placing another matrix plate which has a different shaped opening 22 in the machine.

The lower end of each bolt 54 (Fig. 2) is threaded into a horiontal stud 64 and is locked to the stud by a set screw 66. Similarly the lower end of each bolt 66 (Figs. 1 and 2) is threaded into a horizontal stud 58 and is secured thereto by a set screw iii. The studs '64 and 68 at each side of the machine are mounted in bores at the rear and forward ends respectively of a lever I2 (Figs. 1, 2 and l). The studs 64 and 58 are rotatable in the bores, elongated slots I4 (Fig. 2) and I6 (Figs. 1 and 2) being formed in the lever through which slots the respective bolts 54 and 66 pass. The levers I2 extend forward and rearward of the machine, each lever normally lying below the corresponding ledge 48. Threaded into each of the levers'lZ is a screw I8 (Figs. 1, 2 and i) the upper end of which is arranged to engage the main frame 46. Each screw [8 has pinned to it an outwardly extending arm 80 through which the screw is rotated. The screw 18 at the right side of the machine (Fig. 1) has a left-hand thread and the screw at the left side of the machine has. a right-hand thread. Accordingly, when the arms 86 are swung forward the screws 73 are rotated in the respective levers I2 which are moved bodily downward causing the bolts 5d and 613 to clamp the matrix plate 29 in position against the ledges 88.

When it is desired to remove the matrix plate 20 from the machine, the arms 86 are swung rearward with relation to the levers IE to slacken the bolts 5 3, 60. When the arms 86 contact lugs 82 (Figs. 2 and 4) of the respective levers I2, further rotation of. the screws I8 with relation to the levers i2 is prevented, continued rearward pressure of the arms Iii! causing the front ends of the levers and the bolts to move outward about the axes of corresponding bolts 5t until the bolts engage the outer walls 84 (Fig. 1) of the slots 62.

The bolts 86 are therefore moved out of the slots 58 in the matrix plate 2i.) so that the operator can move the matrix plate from the machine. Another matrix plate having a U-shaped opening 22 of a different size is then placed on the ledges l8 and moved rearward until it engages the bolts 54. The arms 36 are then swung forward. Lock washers 86 (Fig. 2) arranged be tween the corresponding arms 86 and levers I2 tend to resist rotary motion of the screws IS in the levers 72 to insure that during the first part of the forward movement of the arms the front ends of the levers and the bolts 66 shall move inward into the slots 58. Continued forward movement of the arms 86 rotates the screws I8 in the levers I2 forcing the levers downward and thereby causing the bolts 5% and (ill to clamp the matrix plate 20 against the ledges 48. When the arms 8i! are moved rearward in the manner above described the releasing of the heads of the bolts E i and 66 from. the matrix plate 20 is insured through the provision of spring-pressed plungers 38 (Fig. 2) which are housed in bores of the levers i2 and engage portions of the respective bolts 54 projecting below the studs 65. It will be appreciated that when allowed to do so the plungers 88 serve to move the forward ends of the levers i2 upward.

With the above construction and arrangement of the matrix plate 26 and associated parts the matrix plate may be quickly removed and replaced by another plate having a U-shaped opening of a different size or shape. In a run of shoes of the same style it is customary to use three or more matrix plates having U-shaped openings of difierent sizes in accordance with the desired size of tab to be formed at the heel end of the sole.

The bulger unit 3E) (Fig. 8) is usually replaced by another unit having a bulger 28 of a different size or shape whenever the matrix plate 20 is replaced by another. The size of the bulger 28 used depends also to some extent upon the thickness of the sole being operated upon. The bulger unit 30 is removably mounted upon the upper end of a slide 96 (Figs. 3 and 6) vertically movable in a sleeve or slide 92 which is vertically movable in a bore 96 (Figs. 2 and 3) of the main frame 46. The sleeve 92 is supported by a collar 96 on a rod 98 threaded into the lower end of the slide 90. A compression spring H33 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) surrounds the rod 538 and bears at its upper end against the collar 93 (Figs. 2 and 3) and at its lower end against a hand wheel I62 (Fig. 2) threaded onto the rod. The spring I60 urges the sleeve 92 upward with relation to the slide 96 and when the machine is idle a shoulder IM (Fig. 3) at the upper portion of the sleeve 92 is held in. contact with a cooperating shoulder on the slide 96. Secured by screws I06 (Figs. 1 and 6) to the upper end of the sleeve 92 are a pair of horizontal lugs I66 which serve as supports for the clamps 32, as will be described later. The bulger 26 and the clamps 32, together with the slide 90 and the sleeve 92 through which the respective bulger and clamp are operated, may be referred to as a plunger unit.

The upper end of the slide Si.) is provided with a guideway III) (Figs. 1 and 6) for receiving a block II2 comprising part of the replaceable bulger unit 3i] (Fig. 8). Formed in the slide 90 below the guideway H0 is a slot II I (Figs. 3 and 6) for receiving a latch IIB which is pivoted on a pin I I8 secured to the slide Q9 and is constantly urged upward by a spring-pressed plunger I20 (Fig. 3). The block H2 is positioned in the guideway III) by a shoulder I22 (Fig. 3) of the sleeve 92 and is held upon the slide 96 by the latch H6.

The bulger unit 3E) (Fig. 8) comprises the bulger 28, the block H2, and a sole gage I24. The block H2 and the bulger 23 are clamped together by two screws I26 (Fig. 3) the bulger having depending flanges I28 (Figs. 6, 7 and 8) which engage upper surfaces of the block H2. Formed between the block I I2 and the bulger 28 is a recess for receiving the shank of the sole gage I24 which is normally held in its operative position by a screw I30 (Fig. 3) passing through a countersunk slot I32 (Figs. 3 and 8) of the gage and threaded into the block H2. A recess I34 in the bulger 28 provides access to the screw I36. After the screw I30 has been loosened the sole gage I24 is adjusted to its proper position with respect to the bulger 28 and the gage is then looked in its new position by setting up the screw. I The work-engaging portion of the sole gage I 24 is curved upward from its shank. It will be noted (Figs. 3 and 5) that the upper face I36 of the sole gage I24 is approximately at the same level as a flat ridge MI] (Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 8) of the bulger 28, the forward face of the gage being inclined forward and upward to form a lip. When the sole 26 from which a heel-breast covering flap I42 (Fig. 10) has been split is positioned in the machine the flap is turned downward, the lip of the gage I24 engaging the sole at the junction of the body portion of the sole and the split flap. The gage M2 may be ad justed from time to time to insure that when the sole is positioned in the machine as above described, the heel-seat portion 2t thereof shall be located accurately in the machine.

The sole-engaging portion of the bulger 28 is narrowest (Figs. 4.-, 5 and 8) at its forward end portion from whence it gradually increases in width until it ends in a rounded rear. end portion. It will be noted (Fig. 4) that the bulger 28 has a U-shaped outline considerably smaller than the U-shaped opening 22 of the matrix plate 28. In order to form the tab d2 (Fig. 10) which is of a preferred outline and has a wide beveled margin HM, the sole-engaging portion of the bulger 28 is constructed as best shown in Figs. 5 and 8, and a presser roll M6 is provided for progressively forcing the heel-seat portion 24 of the sole against the loulger immediately ahead of the knife 3%; thereby insuring that the sole shall be conformed to the upper face of the bulger and preventing the central part of the heel-seat portion of the sole from being sucked or drawn away from the bulger 28 as the knife 35 forms the tab 42. The upper margin of the bulger 28 is rounded off along its sides and around its rear end portion, the degree of bevel at the rear end portion being greater than the degree of bevel along the sides. The sole-engaging portion of the bulger 28 comprises the flat central ridge t lt and a pair of beveled lateral margins I43 (Figs. 4, 5 and 3) inclined to the ridge. At the rear end of the ridge Hit is a portion ital (Fig. 3) which is spaced by shoulders l52 (Fig. 8) from the lateral margins Hit of the bulger.

When the bulger 28 is moved to its raised position (Figs. 6 and '7) to press the heel-seat portion 2 3 of the sole through U-shaped opening 22 of the matrix plate 26), the ridge hit is approximately in' alinement with the upper face it of the matrix plate. Accordingly, the central portion 554 (Fig. 10) of the tab d2 formed upon the sole is of a thickness equal to the full thickness of the soie and the lateral margins Md of the tab it are beveled. By beveling off the rear end of the bulger 28 as above described it has been found that the rear end of the tab 52 is trimmed on a long bevel which merges attractively with the beveled lateral margins Hit of the tab.

The knife 3b is secured by a screw l5$ (Fig. 3) and a clamp plate 558 to a carrier it!) which reciprocates forward and rearward along a guideway (not shown) of the machine frame it. The knife carrier ltd is similar to the knife carrier disclosed in the above-mentioned United States Letters Patent No. 1,980,369 and is operated upon tripping a one-revolution clutch (not shown).

The presser roll Mt; and the mechanism for operating the same will now be described. EX- tending from a bracket Hi2 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) which is secured to the knife carrier Hit is a horizontal pin the upon which is pivoted a block 466. The block ltd is normally held in the position illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 with relation to the bracket it? and is prevented from turning in a clockwise direction (Figs. 2 and 3) about the pin ltd by engagement with an extension I 58 of the bracket. The block lilt is normally prevented from turning in a counterclockwise direction by a latch Flt (Figs. '1 and 2) which is pivoted on a screw ll? secured to the block I36 and has a hook-shaped end (Fig. 2) normally embracing a pin ll l secured to the bracket 562. A tension spring I16 holds the latch I 10 in engagement with the pin I'M. The latch 110 has an upward extending portion which may be moved rearward by the operator to lower the hook-shaped end of the latch away from the pin i it. When the block I66 has been swungupward about the pin 164, for purposes which will appear later, movement of the latch l'ifi under the action of the spring H6 is prevented by a stop pin i F8 projecting from the block I66.

The block N56 has a vertical bore [8t (Fig. 3) in which moves a slide iElE having a rod ltd projecting therefrom. A screw 86 (Figs. 1 and 2) is threaded into the upper end of the block I66 and has a bore through which the rod 5% passes. Surrounding the rod 584 and located between the screw i 35 and the slide 82 is a compression spring Extending downward from the slide are two arms Hit for supporting a horizontal pin E92 which is threaded into one of the arms and on which the presser roll Hit is rotatably mounted. The arrangement is such that the presser roll W5 is located immediately in advance of the cutting edge 38 of the knife 36 and travels ahead of the knife during its cutting stroke. When the knife 36 is retracted (Fig. 3, the presser roll M6 engages the upper face it (Figs. 5 and 6) of the matrix plate 26) just rearward of the U-shaped opening 22. As the knife 36 advan es the presser roll i lfi travels forward on the upper surface of the sole which is forced upward through the U- shaped opening 22 by the bulger 28 and portions of the clamps t2 and serves to press the sole firmly into contact with the bulger and to hold it against being sucked up by the knife. The amount of pressure exerted against the sole by the presser roll M6 is controlled by the degree of compression of the spring ltd which may be varied by turning the screw 1%. To prevent the slide I82 from being moved too far downward by the spring tilt should the machine be operated with no work therein the slide has a slot I94 (Fig. 3) in which is received a pin 5% secured in the block 66.

The presser roll [t6 comprises two frusto-conical portions 198 (Figs. 1v and '7) which are spaced by and taper toward a circumferential groove 2d!) slightly wider than the ridge hit of the bulger 28. As the presser roll Hi5 advances during the operation of the machine it bends the central part of the heel-seat portion 2t of the sole transversely to a shape co-mplemental to the widthwise curvature of the upper face of the bulger 28, and as the knife 3% makes its out the sole is maintained in this shape and is not permitted to be sucked l or drawn away from the upper surface of the bulging member under the action of the knife.

Theslide through which the clamps 32 and the bulger 28 are moved to and from their raised operative positions (Figs, 6 and 7) is'operated by a lever 2% (Fig. 3) pivoted upon a bearing pin 265 secured to the main frame 56. The front end of the lever passes through a slot 2% in the sleeve 92 and is provided with a knob fitting in a recess 2,! 8 of the slide. The mechanism for operating the lever 2 .32 comprises a treadle rod (not shown) which is depressed by the operator to raise the slide 9i? until the ridge Hit of the bulger 23 is'level with the upper face d8 of the matrix plate 20, movement of the lever M2 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in 3, being limited by an adjustable stop (not shown). After the heel-seat portion of the sole has been bent to the proper shape between the matrix plate 20 on the one hand and the ciamps 32 and the bulger 28 on the other hand (Figs. 6 and '7) the operator continues to depress the treadle thereby tripping the above-mentioned one-revolution clutch (not shown) to operate the tab-forming knife 38. Since the mechanism for operating the lever 282 .and tripping the clutch is substantially identical with mechanism disclosed in the above-mentioned United States Letters Patent No. 1,980,369, it will not be necessary further to describe such mechanism herein.

Should it happen in the operation of the machine that the knife St only partly completes its tab-forming stroke and it is therefore desirable again to operate upon the sole, the roll M8 in its second advance may tend to carry in front of it the partly formed tab, thus interfering with the formation of a properly formed tab. Accordingly, in order to avoid such an occurrence, the block I66 is so mounted upon the bracket I62 that it may be swung to an inoperative position with respect to the bracket. When the knife 36 only partially completes its forward tab-cutting stroke the operator releases the latch H8 and swings the block I66 upon the pin N34 to move the roll M6 upward to its inoperative position away from the matrix plate 28. A leaf spring 2I2 is secured by a screw 2I4 to the bracket I82 and when the block I66 is swung to its raised inoperative position the leaf spring engages a surface 2&6 of the block tomaintain the same in its raised position. The machine can be again operated with the roll M6 in its inoperative position thereby avoiding the above-mentioned undesirable effect. After the machine has come'to rest the operator then lowers the block I66 and the parts carried thereby to their operative positions illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The clamps 32 of the illustrated machine will now be described in detail. The two lugs 188 which extend horizontally rearward from the upper end of the sleeve 82 serve as supports for clamp-carrying arms 2E8 which are pivoted through the provision of pivot studs 228 to the corresponding bars I88. Each of the clamps 32 comprises a detachable block or section 222 (Figs. 1, 4 and 5) which is supported by a corresponding lug I88 and which is mounted upon a pin 224 projecting from the forward end of the arm 258 and is held in place on the pin by a spring 226. Projecting inner faces 228 (Figs. 6 and '7) of the clamps 32 engage the outer sides of the bulger 28, a tension spring 239 (Figs. 3, i and 5), cpposite ends of which are secured to studs 232 carried by the respective arms 2H8, serving tomaintain the clamps 32 in abutting relation with the bulger 28. The lower portions of the inner faces of the clamps 32 are cut away as indicated at 234 (Figs. 6 and '7) in order to insure that only the faces 228 of the clamps shall engage the bulger 28. Upstanding pins 236 (Figs. 3 and i) projecting from the bars I88 serve when the bulger 28 has been removed from the slide 98 to limit inward movement of the clamps 32 under the action of the spring 238 thereby facilitating the insertion of the bulger 28 between the clamps.

The pivot studs 228 are spaced a considerable distance apart and are positioned about five inches rearward of the clamps 82 to insure that during the slight degree of pivotal movement of the arms 2I8 which takes place when the clamps 3i! adjust themselves to bulgers 28 of different sizes, the angular positions of the clamps shall not be altered to any appreciable degree. The axes of the pivot studs 228 may be described as being disposed at right angles to the upper face 48 of the matrix plate 20 and positioned substantial distances rearward of the U-shaped opening 22.

When the machine is idle sole-penetrating teeth 238, which may be referred to as extensions of the clamps. 32, are arranged above the level of the ridge I 30 of the bulger 28. During the first part of the upward movement of the bulger 28 caused by the upward movement of the slide 90, the sleeve 92 carrying the lugs I88 is raised by the spring I80 carried by the slide 98 causing the clamps 32 to force the side margins of the heelseat portion of the sole against the beveled face 34 of the matrix plate 20. The slide 98 is permitted to move upward independently of the sleeve 92 until the ridge I48 of the bulger 28 has been raised to the level of the upper face 48 of the matrix plate 28 causing the central part of the heel-seat portion of the sole to be raised above said upper face.

It will be understood that the same pair of clamps 32, including the blocks 222, can usually be used satisfactorily in conjunction with different sized bulgers 28 when the U-shaped portion 44 of surplus surface material is to be left attached to the sole as shown in Fig. 10. A shorter pair of clamps 248 (Fig. 9), preferably the clamps 32 illustrated in Fig. 5 with the blocks 222 removed, are used with corresponding bulgers 242 when it is desired, as will later appear, to remove a U-shaped chip 244 (Fig. 11) of surplus material from the sole by a out which forms a tab 245 and shoulders 246.

It is customary to change the clamps 32 as well as the bulgers 28 and the matrix plates 28 when changing from the production of work in which the U-shaped portion 44 is to be left attached to the sole, to the production of work in which the U-shaped portion 246 (Fig. 11) is to be completely severed from the sole or vice versa. Accordingly, the clamps 32 comprise the above-described blocks 222 which may be readily removed from the machine to provide the shorter clamps 240 shown in Fig. 9. As will later appear, the clamps 32 may be used without the blocks 222 in conjunction with the bulger 2 32 to provide the sole illustrated inFig. 11,'or may be used with the blocks in conjunction with the bulger 28 illustrated in Figs. 5 and 8 to produce the sole illustrated in Fig. 10.

The curvature of the side portions of different bulgers engaged by the clamps does not vary substantially and accordingly the same clamps may be effectively used with different bulgers. The illustrated machine is not provided with a separate clamp for forcing the rear end of the heelseat portion 28 of the sole against the beveled face 3 3 of the matrix plate 28 since it has been found that satisfactory results are obtained without use of such a clamp.

It will be noted that when the bulger 23 is in its raised operative position shown in Fig. '7 it is spaced a considerable distance, preferably about of an inch, inward from an edge 241 formed by the intersection of the fiat face 58 and the beveled face 34 of the matrix plate 23. Accordingly a gap 248 through which the heel-seat po tion 24 of the sole passes is formed between the raised bulger 28 and the edge 24'! of he matrix plate 20. At each side of the U-shaped opening 22 the gap 248 is filled to a considerable extent by the teeth 238 of clamps 32, which teeth ex-- tend slightly above adjacent areas of the lateral margins I48 of the sole-engaging portion of the bulger 28. Thus when the bulger 28 and the clamps 32 are in their raised operative positions (Figs. 6 and 7) the clamps not only force opposite side margins of the heel-seat portion 24 of the sole against the beveled face 3d of the matrix plate 20 along the sides of the opening but also force portions of the sole in the vicinity of the gap 248 above the face 4d of the matrix plate and with considerable pressure against the edge Ml of the plate.

With the above-described construction in which the bulger 28 is considerably smaller than the U-shaped. opening 223 and has its ridge l lfl moved upward to the level of the face it of the matrix plate 29 regardless of the thickness of the sole, and in which the teeth 38 of the clamps 2t effectively force portions of the sole in the vicinity of the gap 238 against the edge 2d! of the matrix plate, the sole is bent slightly around the edge 24?, as shown in Fig. 7, with the result that the tab 42 formed by the knife 35 is of substantially the same width as the U-shaped opening, and has a central portion I55 of the full thickness of the sole and a wide beveled margin i ll. The teeth 238 are sharp enough to penetrate to a slight extent the portion of the sole passing through the gap 2 58 thereby securing the sole against lengthwise displacement under the action of the heel-seat reducing knife 36.

As above explained, the U-shaped portion M (Fig. 10) of surplus material left after forming the heel-seat tab t2 by the machine illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive; is attached at its forward end to the sole. The operator usually severs the U-shaped portion 441 from the sole while forming heel-breast receiving shoulders (not shown) on the sole after the attachment of the sole to the shoe. 1 In the manufacture of shoes having Louis heels it is common practice to reduce the heel-seat portion of the unattached sole by a single incision in the manner illustrated in Fig. 11, the resultant tab 245 being slightly shorter than the tab 42 and the shoulders 246 being constructed and arranged to be engaged by the forward portion of the attaching face of a heel after the sole has been attached to the shoe. In order to equip the illustrated machine for trimming the sole just described the bulger 2 52 (Fig, 9) is substituted for the bulger 28 and the blocks 222 are removed from the clamp 32. The bulger 242 comprises a laterally extending bar 250, the upper face of which lies in a plane of a flat ridge 252 of the shank portion 253 of the bulger 242 which is shorter than the bulger 28, but otherwise is of the same shape as the bulger 28. The bulger 242 is secured by screws (not shown) to the block H2 and to the gage A24 to provide the bulger unit shown in Fig. 9 which corresponds to the above described bulger unit 3!) shown in Fig. 8.

A matrix plate 25!- (Fig. 9) used in conjunction with the bulger 242 is cut away at its front portion to provide clearance for the bar 250 and hasa U-shaped opening 256 which is shorter than the opening 22 of the matrix plate 20 to accommodate the shank portion 253 of the. bulger 242. The rear portions of the bar 25d are beveled, as indicated at 258 and are arranged just ahead of the front edges 26!! of the matrix plate 254 when the sole is clamped in the machine. When in the operation of the machine the bulger 242 is raised the portion of the sole lying just in front of the front edges 26E] of the matrix plate 254 is raised above the level of the upper face 2M of the matrix plate so that the knife 35 during its advance, severe the U-shaped portion of surplus material 244 from the sole by cutting through the margins of the sole at each side thereof to form, the shoulders 246. It will be understood that when tabs 245 (Fig. 11) of different sizes and shapes have to be produced the unit formed by the bulger 242, the block I I2, and, if desirable, the sole gage 524 may be readily interchanged for another unit in which the bulger is of a different size or shape. Moreover, a corresponding change of matrix plate 254 may be quickly effected as above described.

In order to centralize soles in the machine there is provided a bifurcated work gage 252 Which is located just below the matrix plate 28 at the rear end of the U-shaped opening 22. The work gage 262 is normally urged forward by a spring (not shown) and may be moved rearward under pressure of the sole. In operating upon soles which do not have breast flaps I42 the gage lid is removed from the machine and the sole is positioned lengthwise and widthwise by forcing the same against the gage 252 which yields rearward until its movement is limited by an adjustable stop (not shown). When the machine is equipped with the bulger 262 (Fig. 9), the matrix plate 254 and the clamps 24E! to reduce the heel-seat portion of the sole in the manner shown in Fig. 11, the U-shaped chip 2M trimmed from the sole has to be removed from the top of the matrix plate 355, In order to eject the U- shaped chip 245 from the machine the work gage 2E2 is moved rapidly by a spring (not shown) to its forward inoperative position after the bulger 252 has been lowered, thereby forcing the chip from the machine. The work gage ZBZand the mechanism for causing the same to eject the U- shaped chip 244 from the machine is fully disclosed in the above-mentioned United States Letters Patent No. 1,980,369 and need not be further described herein.

It may be desirable when the sole is thick and stiff, for example, to substitute a bulger 264 (Fig. 12) for the bulger 28. The bulger 264 has a sole-engaging portion comprising a flat upper ridge 2% which is raised about 5 of an inch above lateral margins 268 of the sole-engaging portion of the bulger, which lateral margins are rounded upward adjacent to the ridge 2% and downward where they blend with the side faces of the bulger. The ridge 265 of the bulger 265 is of uniform width and terminates a considerable distance from the rear end of the bulger. The rear part 21E! of the sole-engaging portion of the bulger 254 curves away gradually toward its rearend and sides, the arrangement being such that the outer rim 21% of the sole-engaging portion of the bulger lies in approximately the same plane. The rear part Ell] of the sole-engaging portion of the bulger 264 may be described as being of somewhat spherical shape, the highest part of which is substantially on the same level as the ridge 266.

When the bulger 264 is used it is customary to substitute a presser roll 280 (Fig. 13) for the presser roll M6. The roll 2853 has two high portions 282 between which there is a circumferential groove 28%. The depth of the groove 284 is slight- 1y greater than the height of the ridge 266 above adjacent portions of the lateral margins 268 of the sole-engaging portion of the bulger 26d, and the width of the groove is slightly greater than thewidth of the ridge 266 so that the high portions 282 of the presser roll 28% may force the heel-seat portion of the sole effectively against the lateral portions 268 at opposite sides of the ridge 266. As the presser roll 28E) advances during the operation of the machine it bends the sole transversely to a shape corresponding to the widthwisecurvature of the sole-engaging portion of the bulger 264. As the knife 36 makes its out the sole is maintained in this shape and is not permitted to be sucked away from the sole-engaging portion of the bulger by the knife.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in com bination, a matrix plate having a U-shaped opening defined by an edge, a pair of clamps for forcing the opposite lateral margins of the heel-seat portion of a sole against the matrix plate, a bulger having a sole-engaging face for forcing the central part of the heel-seat portion of the sole through the U-shaped opening, means for operating the clamps and the bulger, and a knife for reducing the heel-seat portion of the sole, said sole-engaging face of the bulger when in its operative position being spaced a considerable distance inward from the edge of the'matrix plate to form a wide gap through which the heel-seat portion of the sole passes, said clamps being pro vided with extensions which when the clamps are in their operative positions project beyond adjacent portions of the sole-engaging face of the bulger and across the gap andare constructed and arranged to force portions of the sole located in the vicinity of the gap with considerable pressure through the U-shaped opening and against said edge of the matrix plate.

2. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a matrix plate having a U-shaped opening defined by an edge formed by the intersection of a substantially fiat face at one side of the plate with a beveled face at the other side of the plate, a pair of clamps for forcing the opposite lateral margins of the heel-seat portion of a sole against said beveled face of the matrix plate, a bulger having a sole-engaging facefor forcing the central part of the heel-seat portion of the sole through the U-shaped opening and beyond said flat face of the matrix plate, means for operating the clamps and the bulger, and a knife having a cutting edge movable over said fiat face of the matrix plate for reducing the heel-seat portion of the solejsaid sole-engaging face of the bulger when in its operative position being spaced a considerable distance inward from said edge of the matrix plate to form a gap through which the heel-seat portion of the sole passes, said clamps being provided with extensions which when the clamps are in their operative positions project beyond adjacent portions of the sole-engaging face of the bulger and across said gap to force portions of the sole located in the vi. cinity of the gap beyond said fiat face of the matrix plate and with considerable pressure against said edge of the plate.

3. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a matrix plate having a U-shaped opening defined by an edge, a pairof clamps for forcing the opposite lateral margins of the heelseat portion of a sole against the matrix plate, a bulger for forcing the central part of the heelseat portion of the sole through said opening, means for operating the clamps and the bulger,

- and a knife for reducing the heel-seat portion of tions of the sole-engaging surface of the bulger and force portions of the sole in the vicinity of the gap through said opening and with considerable pressure against said edge of the matrix plate.

4:. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a matrix plate having a U-shaped opening defined by an edge formed by the intersection of a substantially fiat face at one side of the plate and a beveled face at the other side of the plate, a pair of clamps for forcing the opposite lateral margins of the heel-seat portion of a sole against the beveled face of the matrix plate, a bulger having a sole-engaging portion comprising a substantially flat central ridge extending lengthwise of the U-shaped opening, means for operating the bulger to move said ridge substantially into alinement with said flat face of the matrix plate thereby forcing the entire central part of the heel-seat portion of the sole through the U-shaped opening and beyond said face, and a knife having a cutting edge movable over said fiat face of the matrix plate to reduce the heelseat portion of the sole, the bulger being spaced a considerable distance inward from said edge of the matrix plate when said ridge is in alinement with said flat face of the matrix plate to form a wide gap through which the heel-seat portion of the sole passes,said clamps being provided with sole-penetrating teeth which project into the gap and force portions of the sole with considerable pressure against said edge of the matrix plate.

5. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a matrix plate having a U-shaped opening, a pair of clamps for forcing the lateral margins of the heel-seat portion of a sole against the matrix plate, and a bulger for forcing the central part of the heel-seat portion of the sole through said U-shaped opening, said bulger having a sole-engaging surface which is of a U- shaped outline and which is considerably smaller than said U-shaped opening and is positioned between and adjacent to said clamps, each of said clamps having teeth which extend above adjacent portions of the sole-engaging surface of the bulger when the sole is bent and clamped between the matrix plate on the one hand and the clamp and the bulger on the other hand thereby insuring that the heel-seat portion of the sole included between the bulger and the matrix plate shall be effectively forced through the u-shaped opening.

6. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a plunger unit comprising a vertically movable slide constructed and arranged to receive interchangeably one of a plurality of bulgers of different sizes, a sleeve guided by said slide and yieldingly secured thereto, horizontal lugs which are secured to the sleeve and extend considerable distances rearward of the bulger mounted upon the slide, clamps pivoted to the rear ends of said lugs and arranged at opposite sides of the bulger, and means for normally forcing the clamps against opposite sides of the bulger.

'7. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a matrix plate having a U-shaped opening, means for clamping the opposite lateral margins of the heel-seat portion of an unattached sole against the matrix plate, a bulger for forcing the central part of the heel-seat portion of the sole through the U-shaped opening, a heel-seat reducing knife having a cutting edge movable forward over the matrix plate to reduce the heel-seat portion of the sole, and a yieldable presser roll movable forward ahead of the cutting edge of the knife for forcing the heel-seat portion of the sole against the bulger to insure against the sole being sucked up by the knife, and means constructed and arranged to enable the presser roll to be moved into and away from its operative position adjacent to the knife.

8. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a plunger unit constructed and arranged to receive interchangeably one of a plurality of bulgers of different sizes, said plunger unit also comprising clamps which are positioned at opposite sides of the bulger and are mounted for adjustment toward and away from each other to accommodate bulgers of different sizes, a matrix plate having a Ll-shaped opening, means for receiving interchangeably matrix plates having U-shaped openings of different sizes, and means for moving the plunger unit to cause the clamps to force the lateral margins of the heelseat portion of the sole against the matrix plate and then to cause the bulger to force the central part of the heel-seat portion of the sole through the U-shaped opening, each of said clamps comprising a section which may be removed from the clamp to accommodate bulgers of a predetermined shape.

9. A heelseat fitting machine having, in combination, a matrix plate having a U-shaped opening and a substantially flat face intersected by the opening, a bulger for forcing the central part of the heel-seat portion of a sole through the U-shaped opening and beyond said face of the matrix. plate, said bulger having a soleengaging portion comprising a substantially flat central ridge extending lengthwise of the U- shaped opening, means for moving the bulge! until said ridge is approximately in alinement With said face of the matrix plate, a knife hava substantially straight cutting edge, means for moving the knife forward with its cutting edge in engagement with said face of the matrix plate to reduce the heel-seat portion of the sole, and a yieldable presser roll movable forward with and ahead of the knife, said roll having a circumferential groove which is slightly wider than said ridge of the bulger and is constructed and arran ed progressively to conform the cen tral part of the heel-seat portion of the sole to the sole-engaging portion of the bulger.

10. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a matrix plate having a U-shaped opening and. a face intersected by said opening, means for clamping the lateral margins of the heel-seat portion of an unattached sole against A the matrix plate, a bulger for forcing the central part of the heel-seat portion of the sole through the lJ-shaped opening, said bulger having a soleportion comprising a substantially flat central ridge extending lengthwise of the U- shaped opening and beveled lateral margins, a heel-seat reducing knife having a cutting edge movable forward along said face of the matrix plate to reduce the heel-seat portion of the sole, and a presser roll comprising two portions of relatively large diameter having between them a circumferential groove which is wider than said ridge of the buiger, said presser roll being movable forward with the knife ahead of said cutting edge of the knife to force the heel-seat portion of the sole against the sole-engaging portion of the bulger thereby insuring against the heel-seat portion of the sole being displaced while it is being reduced.

11. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a matrix plate having a U-shaped opening and a substantially flat face intersected by the opening, a bulger for forcing the central part of the heel-seat portion of the sole through said opening and beyond said face of the matrix plate, said bulger having a sole-engaging portion comprising a substantially flat central ridge which is parallel to said face of the matrix plate and extends lengthwise of the U-shaped opening, means for moving the bulger toward the matrix plate unti said ridge is approximately in alinement with said face of the matrix plate, a knife movable forward over said face of the matrix to reduce the heel-seat portion of the sole, and a yieldable presser roll movable forward With and ahead of the knife, said presser roll having a circumferential groove which is slightly wider than. the ridge of the bulger and also having frusto-conical surfaces which are located opposite sides of taper toward the groove, said roll being constructed and arranged progressively to conform the central part of the heel-seat portion of the sole to the sole-engaging portion of the bulger.

12. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a matrix plate having a U-shaped opening defined by an edge formed by a substantially flat face at one side of the plate and a beveled face at the other side of the plate, means for clamping the lateral margins of the heelseat portion of an unattached sole against the beveled face of the matrix plate, a bulger for forcing the central part of the heel-seat portion of the sole through the U-shaped opening and beyond said. flat face of the matrix plate, said bulger having a sole-engaging portion comprising a substantially flat central ridge extending lengthwise of the U-shaped opening and beveled lateral margins, a heel-seat reducing knife having a cutting edge movable over said flat face of the matrix plate to reduce the heel-seat portion of the sole, and a presser roll comprising a circumferential groove which is wider than said ridge of the bulger and has at its opposite sides portions of relatively large diameter which taper toward the groove, said presser roll being movable forward ahead of the cutting edge of the knife for forcing the heel-seat portion of the sole against the bulger to insure against the sole being sucked up by the knife as it reduces the heel-seat portion of the sole.

13. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a matrix plate having a U-shaped opening and a face intersected by the opening, means for interchangeably receiving one of a plurality of matrix plates having U-shaped openings of different sizes, a plunger unit comprising a pair of clamps for forcing the lateral margins of the heel-seat portion of a sole against said matrix plate and also comprising a bulger for forcing the central part of the heel-seat portion of the sole through the U-shaped opening of the matrix plate and beyond said face of said plate, said plunger unit being constructed and arranged to receive interchangeably one of a plurality of bulgers of different sizes selected in accordance with the size of the U-shaped opening of the matrix plate, the respective clamps being movable into engagement with the opposite sides of buigers of different sizes about axes which are arranged approximately at right angles to said face of the matrix plate and are located considerable distances rearward of the U-shaped opening, a knife having a cutting edge, and

means for moving the knife forward with its cutting edge in engagement with said face of the matrix plate to reduce the heel-seat portion of the sole.

14. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a matrix plate having a U-shaped opening and a face intersected by the opening, means for receiving interchangeably one of a plurality of matrix plates having U-shaped openings of different sizes, a bulger, a plunger unit constructed and arranged to receive interchange ably one of a plurality of bulgers of different sizes, a pair of clamps carried by the plunger unit, means for moving the plunger unit in a predetermined path to cause the clamps to force the side margins of the heel-seat portion of the sole against the matrix plate and then to cause the bulger to force the central part of the heel-seat portion of the sole through the U-shaped opening and beyond face of the matrix plate, a knife having a cutting edge which is in engagement with said face of the matrix plate, mechanism for moving the knife forward with its cutting edge in engagement with said face of the matrix plate to reduce the heel-seat portion of the sole, said clamps being movable widthwise of the sole to accommodate bulgers of different sizes, means for normally forcing the respective clamps against opposite sides of the bulger, and stops for limiting movement of the clamps toward each other when there is no bulger in the plunger unit.

15. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a matrix plate having a U-shaped opening and a flat face intersected by the opening, means for receiving interchangeably matrix plates having U-shaped openings of different sizes, a bulger, a movable slide constructed and arranged to receive interchangeably one of a plurality of bulgers of different sizes, a second slide movable with the first-named slide, a spring for normally maintaining the second-named slide in a predetermined position with relation to the first-named slide, lugs secured to and extending rearward from the second-named slide, clamps supported by and pivoted to the respective lugs, means for normally forcing said clamps against opposite sides of the bulger, means for moving both of said slides toward the matrix plate to cause the clamps to force the margin of the heel-seat portion of a sole against the matrix plate and then to cause the bulger to force the central part of the heel-seat portion of the sole through the U-shaped opening and above said face of the matrix plate, a knife having a cutting edge, and means for moving the cutting edge of the knife over said face of the matrix plate to reduce the heel-seat portion of the sole.

16. A heel-seat fitting machine having, in combination, a matrix plate having a U-shaped opening and a face intersected by the opening, means for receiving interchangeably one of a plurality of matrix plates having U-shaped openings of different sizes, a slide movable in a predetermined path, a sleeve movable with and yieldable with relation to the slide, a pair of clamps carried by the sleeve and constructed and arranged to force the side margins of the heel-seat portion of a sole against the matrix plate, a bulger for forcing the central part of the heel-seat portion of the sole through the U-shaped opening and beyond said face of the matrix plate, said slide being constructed and arranged to receive interchangeably one of a plurality of bulgers of different sizes, said clamps being movable into engagement with bulgers of different sizes about respective axes which are arranged at approximately right angles to said face of the matrix plate and are located considerable distances rearward of the matrix plate, means for moving the slide and the sleeve toward the matrix plate to clamp the side margins of the heel-seat portion of the sole against the matrix plate and then to force the central part of the heel-seat portion through the U-shaped opening and beyond said face of the matrix plate, a knife having a cutting edge, and means for moving the knife forward with its cutting edge in engagement with said face of the matrix plate to reduce the heelseat portion of the sole.

JOHN VVILLIAEVI PRATT. 

